"That thief hasn't shown up again lately."
"We can't let our guard down. That Saintess hasn't been behaving herself either."
"No worries. It's about time to reap the harvest anyway. Find a suitable man to get close to her. Once she bears the next generation, deal with her quickly—don't let her end up like the previous Saintess."
"Your conversation is quite interesting. Mind if I join in?"
A third voice rang out abruptly in the dim room. The two who had been whispering in secret turned pale in an instant.
Boom!
In the next second, an immense force shattered the entire wall along with the doorframe. The dawn's first light pierced fiercely into the darkened interior, illuminating everything without mercy.
Amid the swirling dust, the two stared in terror toward the doorway—only to see a young man leaning casually against the broken frame, a mocking sneer on his face.
"You're pretty self-aware, knowing to hide in a place like this when discussing such shady topics."
"But this room's ruined now. As compensation, I'll send you somewhere far more suitable."
"Who are you?!"
"Weren't you just talking about me?"
The young man grinned, his smile laced with mischief.
"Am I not that thief who's been trying to get close to Tirixipios, only to be blocked by you time and again?"
"You?!"
"Enough pointless chatter. No need to hope for rescue... While you were holed up here plotting your dirty little schemes, we've already taken care of all your men."
The two in the room went deathly white...
All of them... taken care of?
H-how is that possible?!
Impossible! They hadn't heard the slightest noise!
"Alright, no more dwelling on trivialities. Next up... let's discuss where exactly to send you."
"I did the math—this place isn't convenient for anywhere else, but the Nether Sea should be a quick trip."
...
Janus Treasury.
As a restricted area now accessible only to priests and Saintesses, security here was usually light on normal days, and ordinary folk rarely approached.
On any ordinary day,
no one would stop Tirixipios from entering.
But today was no ordinary day.
"Saintess, the Janus Treasury is closed to entry for now," the guarding soldier explained to Tirixipios.
"As you know, there have been thieves lurking in the city, trying to get close to you."
"For your safety, we've sealed off your usual routes. Please stay home and await further notice."
All her routes had been sealed.
Tirixipios frowned slightly. After a moment's thought, she spoke softly.
"...It's been a long time since I last chatted with Mother. Could you make an exception?"
The soldiers hesitated. Unlike the higher-ups, most of them held genuine reverence for this Saintess.
But orders from above left them unable to comply.
"Please don't make this hard for us, Saintess."
They wanted to let her through, but the ones who controlled the city's lifeblood wouldn't allow them to open the gates wide for her.
"Please turn back."
With that, the soldiers formed a human wall, blocking the path completely.
"...I understand."
Tirixipios sighed softly. It was futile, and she didn't want to implicate these city guardians.
But just as she turned to leave,
suddenly,
an urgent voice shouted from afar.
"The Grand Priest and Qibego Family Head have been attacked! Seal all main roads—no one lingers on the streets!"
The Grand Priest and Qibego attacked?
The news stunned the soldiers. Those two were among Janusapolis's top decision-makers.
Attacked without warning?
What kind of audacious thief would dare?
"Saintess! Protect the Saintess—the thieves might still be in Janusapolis!"
The soldier forming the wall spoke up abruptly. The others froze, then heard him continue.
"We can't let the Saintess go alone."
"Please stay by our side."
He parted the line, opening a path straight to the Janus Treasury. Tirixipios's eyes lit up with delight.
She hadn't expected such a sudden turn of luck.
"Captain... this..."
"Let the girl through."
The captain who had stepped aside spoke softly, then added,
"She's given so much to Janusapolis, just like her mother. Look the other way this once."
He paused briefly.
"If there's trouble, I'll take the fall."
Hearing their captain, the soldiers said no more and let Tirixipios enter the Janus Treasury. As she passed him, she whispered a quiet "thank you," then silently added an apology in her heart.
Because once she entered the Treasury
and tried to touch Janus's Fire Seed directly, this soldier who had let her in would inevitably be dragged down with her.
But she had no choice—she had to weigh if this was her one and only chance.
The higher-ups had already turned malicious toward her. In recent meetings, those esteemed elders had eyed her like merchandise.
Soon, perhaps, she would be made to bear a child like her mother, then vanish from the world on some pretext of a "tragic fall."
She did not fear death.
But she had a mission she must fulfill.
So—
I'm sorry. Truly sorry.
But I must do this.
With resolve, Tirixipios stepped into the Treasury.
Yet as she reached its depths, the sight before her left her dazed.
The patrolling guards inside lay scattered on the ground, sunk into a sleep like infants—or more precisely, none had been spared.
"Janus's Fire Seed!"
Ignoring everything else, Tirixipios rushed toward the Treasury's innermost sanctum.
When she pushed open that final door,
two figures were already waiting there.
The younger-looking boy turned, gazed at her, and broke into a satisfied smile.
"Finally meeting you, my dear Tili Teacher."
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